library 

SCHOOL 


I 

The  Texas 

State  Library  Association 

(ORGANIZED  JUNE  10,  1902) 

OFFICERS  1901-1902 


PRESIDENT 

WILLIAM  L.  PRATHER Austin 

VICE-PRESIDENTS 

MISS  ROSA  M.  LEEPER Dallas 

MRS.  J.  C.  TERRELL Fort  Worth 

TREASURER 

A.  C.  READ Ed  Paso 

SECRETARY 

BENJAMIN  WYCHE Austin 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  TEXAS  STATE  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION. 

I 



First.  The  name  of  this  organization ! shall  be  “The  Texas  State  Library  As- 
sociation.” 

Second.  The  purpose  and  object  of  this  Association  shall  be  the  promotion 
of  library  interests  in  Texas. 

Third.  The  home  and  headquarters  of  the  Texas  State  Library  Association 
shall  be  at  the  city  of  Austin,  Texas. 

Fourth.  The  membership  of  the  Texas  State  Library  Association  shall  con- 
sist of  the  undersigned,  who  are  hereby  declared  to  be  its  charter  members, 
and  of  such  other  reputable  persons  as  may  hereafter  from  time  to  time  be 
elected  to  membership  by  the  Executive  Board  to  be  hereinafter  created,  or 
by  the  Association  itself.  Members  shall  be  classed  as  active  or  general,  and 
as  honorary  members.  The  dues  of  active  or  general  members  are  fixed  at  $1 
per  year.  The  dues  of  honorary  members  are  fixed  at  $10,  the  payment  of 
which  sum,  once  made,  entitles  such  honorary  member  to  a life  membership 
in  the  Texas  State  Library  Association.  It  shall  also  be  competent  to  the 
Association  when  in  session  to  elect  honorary  members  without  dues,  when, 
in  the  judgment  of  the  Association,  such  persons  have  rendered  the  State  of 
Texas  or  this  Association  such  distinguished  public  services  as  to  clearly  en- 
title them  to  this  honor. 

Fifth.  The  administration  and  control  of  the  affairs  of  this  Association 
(when  the  Association  itself  is  not  in  session)  is  vested  in  an  Executive  Board 
of  the  Association,  consisting  of  a President,  two  Vice-Presidents,  a Secretary 
and  a Treasurer,  serving  ex  officio  (all  of  which  officers  are  to  be  chosen  by  the 
Association  only),  and  one  representative  from  each  congressional  district; 
these  congressional  district  members  of  the  Executive  Board,  for  the  first  year 
of  this  Association,  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  of  this  Association; 
thereafter  such  members  of  the  Executive  Board  shall  be  chosen  by  the  As- 
sociation at  its  annual  meetings;  but  by  special  resolution  at  such  regular  meet- 
ings the  President  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  empowered  to  appoint  such 
congressional  district  members.  Five  members  of  the  Executive  Board  shall 


constitute  a quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business.  The  usual  parliamentary 
rules  shall  apply  in  the  conduct  of  this  Association,  and  its  officers  shall  pos- 
sess and  exercise  the  usual  common  law  and  statutory  powers  of  their  respec- 
tive offices  and  be  charged  with  the  usual  duties  and  responsibilities  of  their 
several  positions,  subject,  however,  to  such  by-laws  of  the  Association  as  may 
be  adopted  by  the  Executive  Board  and  to  such  resolutions  as  may  be  passed 
by  the  Association  itself. 

Sixth.  The  annual  meetings  of  this  Association  shall  be  held  in  the  city  of 
Austin,  Texas,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  November  of  each  year,  save  and  ex- 
cept that  the  Association  itself  by  resolution  upon  adjournment,  or  the  Exe- 
cutive Board,  when  the  Association  is  not  in  session,  may  fix  the  annual  meet- 
ings of  the  Association  at  such  other  times  and  such  other  places  in  Texas  as 
they  may  from  time  to  time  order  and  appoint.  Annual  meetings  of  the  Exe- 
cutive Board  shall  be  held  on  the  day  before,  and  at  the  place  of  the  regular 
annual  meeting  of  the  Association.  Special  meetings  of  the  Executive  Board 
may  be  called  by  the  President  of  the  Association  when  in  his  judgment  the 
vital  interests  of  the  Association  so  require.  And  it  is  hereby  made  his  duty 
to  call  a special  meeting  of  said  Executive  Board  when  so  requested  in  writing 
by  three  or  more  members  of  said  Board. 

Seventh.  The  provisions  of  this  charter  and  such  by-laws  as  the  Executive 
Board  may  provide,  and  it  is  made  their  duty  to  frame  a system  of  by-laws 
by  the  next  annual  meeting  of  this  Association,  can  be  altered,  amended  or 
annulled  at  any  regular  meeting  of  this  Association,  provided  such  proposed 
change  in  this  charter  or  in  the  by-laws  of  this  Association  is  submitted  in 
writing  and  filed  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Association  at  least  thirty  days 
before  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Association  thereafter. 


ORIGIN. 

In  response  to  a call  issued  by  nine  library  people  from  different  parts  of 
the  State  a representative  meeting  was  held  in  Austin,  June  9-10,  1902,  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  a State  Library  Association.  At  this  meeting  an  inter- 
esting program  was  rendered  (see  University  of  Texas  Record,  July,  1902)  and 
organization  was  perfected  by  the  election  of  officers  and  the  adoption  of  the 


foregoing  constitution.  The  President  w£ 
on  legislation,  with  A.  P.  Wooldridge 
women’s  clubs,  the  State  Teachers’  As:s 
libraries. 


; authorized  to  appoint  a committee 
as  chairman,  on  Co-operation  with 
ociation  and  on  Information  about 


OBJECT. 

As  stated  in  the  constitution,  the  purpose  of  this  Association  shall  be  the 
promotion  of  library  interests  in  Texas.  The  occasional  meetings  of  this  As- 
sociation for  the  discussion  of  plans,  the  exchange  of  ideas  and  experiences  will 
undoubtedly  greatly  aid  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  end. 


There  is  a great  field  for  fruitful  work  in  this  State  in  the  way  of  establish- 
ing free  local  and  traveling  libraries,  securing  the  proper  recognition  and  en- 
largement of  the  State  library,  arousing  the  public  schools  to  the  importance  of 
good  reading,  by  the  observance  of  library  day  in  all  the  schools  or  otherwise, 
and  by  gathering  and  distributing  library  information. 

At  the  June  meeting  it  was  the  consensus  of  opinion  of  those  present  that 
these  results  could  best  be  accomplished  by  means  of  a State  Library  Com- 
mission, whose  business  it  shall  be  to  secure  needed  library  legislation,  and 
promote  the  establishment  and  furtherance  of  free  public  libraries  in  every  wiy 
possible.  These  commissions  have  done  most  effectual  work  in  other  States; 
but  before  one  can  be  appointed  in  this  State  it  will  be  necessary  to  secure  the 
passage  of  a bill  for  that  purpose  by  the  Legislature.  Such  a bill,  it  is  hoped, 
will  be  presented  to  the  new  Legislature,  and  in  securing  its  passage  the  Asso- 
ciation counts  on  the  co-operation  of  the  women’s  clubs,  the  teachers,  the  press 
— all  who  believe  in  providing  “the  best  reading  for  the  largest  number  at  the 
least  cost.”  A 

MEMBERSHIP. 

All  who  are  interested  in  the  cause  which  this  Association  represents  are 
invited  to  become  members  and  lend  a hand. 

Applications  for  membership,  with  the  membership  fee  of  one  dollar  ($1.00), 
may  be  sent  either  to  the  Secretary  or  the  Treasurer. 


Circular  3. 

15  Oct.,  1902. 


